Arrive in Kathmandu

Upon your Arrival,we will welcome you in the terminal hall in Tribhuvan International Airport at Kathmandu. We will transfer you to your  hotel and introduce you to your trekking guide, and together you can enjoy a hot cup of masala tea and have an in depth discussion about your trek, including the trekking route, anything you need, the necessities for the trek, and any general suggestions for preparing for your upcoming adventure.

Sightseeing & trek preparation in Kathmandu

Today you will take a sightseeing tour of Kathmandu with our appointed City Guide! Kathmandu is rich with Hindu and Buddhist history, so with an early morning start, you will visit places such as: the Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath, the Buddhist shrine of Boudhanath, the “city of fine arts - Patan Durbar Square, Krishna temple, Kumbeswore Temple, Golden Temple, the 2000 year old “Monkey Temple” - Swayambunath Stupa, and Basantaur Durbar Square - home to the living goddess Kumari. In the afternoon you can get acquainted with the local area around Thamel market, as we help you finish your final trek preparations with a spot of gear hire and/or shopping. In the evening we will officially greet you with a Welcome Dinner serving traditional authentic Nepali food in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu (1,350m) to Pokhara (750m: 6-8 hours)

Are you ready to start your adventure? Today we will be traveling by bus to the lake city of Pokhara, which is the second-largest city in Nepal. It’s a long trip, taking about 6-8 hours, with the route winding through hills and following the river outside of Kathmandu valley on our way to Pokhara. We’ll be traveling via tourist bus, which gives us some added comfort, and a lunch break at a local roadside teahouse along the way.

Pokhara (750m) to Nayapul (1,070m: 2 hours) then Tikhedhunga (1,480m: 4-5 hours)

Our day starts with a short 2-hour drive by private vehicle to Nayapul, the official starting place of our Annapurna Base Camp trek. From Nayapul, we have a relatively short day of trekking ahead of use as we make our way to Tikhedhunga, a small mountain village North-West of Pokhara.

Tikhedhunga (1,480m) to Ghorepani (2,800m: 6-7 hours)

We wake up early for an unrelenting day of trekking on our way to Ghorepani. We have a steep stone staircase to ascend today, which is said to 3,300 steps! But our walk will be rewarded with the gentle views of beautiful terraced fields, deep forests, sparkling clear streams and views of mountains in the distance as we reach our day’s destination.

Ghorepani to Tadapani (2,630m: 5-6 hours) with early morning side trek to Poon Hill (2 hours)

Rise and Shine! It’s an early morning as we set out on a side trek to Poon Hill. With a short 2 hour hike to climb to the optimal vantage point, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular sunrise over the Himalayas. This is once in a lifetime experience that you don’t want to miss! After breakfast we set out for the day, making our way to Tadapani along a steeply descending trail through peaceful rhododendron forests, gentle streams with swimming pools, waterfalls and terraced farms. Another short, but steep ascent sees us at Tadapani, where you’ll be greeted by spectacular views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhare. If we’re lucky, we might even be able to catch sunset views from the Shiva temple just above village.

Tadapani (2,630m) to Chhomrong (2,210m: 5-6 hours)

Within our first few hours of trekking today, we’ll be descending down to the Khumna Khola and crossing via the suspension bridge before starting the steep ascent back up towards a ridge just outside of Chhomrong. Located on the lap of the giant Annapurna massif, we’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the Annapurnas and Mt. Machapuchare.

Chhomrong (2,210m) to Doban (2,500m: 5-6 hours)

We come across more stone staircases and suspension bridges today as we once again descend and climb out through forests of bamboo, rhododendron and oak. As we reach the peak of our ascent into the Modi Valley, we can begin to see the villages of Bamboo and Doban below us, beckoning us to make the steep descent down a stone staircase and through a forest of bamboo and rhododendron. Watch out for the black faced langurs that call these forests home!

Doban (2,500m) to Machapuchare Base Camp (3,700m: 5- 6 hours)

Heading out from Doban, we’ll be crossing streams, avalanche chutes, landslides, making our way past a local Baraha Than temple and crossing the remnants of an old glacier as we head towards the valley at the base of the mountains that mark the official gateway of the Annapurna Sanctuary. We’ll be camping overnight in the lap of the Himalayas at Machapuchare Base Camp, and from here you will  have spectacular views of the majestic twin peaks of Mt Machapuchare.

Machapuchare Base Camp (3,700m) to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m: 2 hours)

After days of long trekking, today you’ll have a comfortable 2 hour trek to reach Annapurna Base Camp. Our trail follows a stream and passes some herder’s huts. At Base Camp, you’ll be surrounded by the mountains, and this is what you came here for. We will be having our lunch here and staying overnight.

Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo (2,310m: 6-7 hours)

The journey back the way we came is much easier than our ascent, and we’ll be making much better time to return. Today, we’ll head back to the village of Bamboo, which is just past Doban, the village we stayed in on Day 7.

Bamboo (2,310m) to Jhinu Danda (1,750m: 4 hours)

Jhinu Danda (1,750m) to Nayapul (1,070m) then to Pokhara (750m)

Our final day of trekking is relatively easy as we descend from Jhinu Danda to Nayapul. From here we once again take a private vehicle to return to Pokhara, one of the most favoured tourist destinations in Nepal. Tomorrow we’ll be returning to Kathmandu, so enjoy the evening sightseeing, or arrange some extra time in Pokhara.

Pokhara to Kathmandu

After a long, and incredible (but perhaps slightly tiring) trek, we think you deserve to avoid the long drive back to Kathmandu. So today we’ll be taking a domestic flight back to Kathmandu, which takes about 45 minutes. With an afternoon in Kathmandu to yourself, you can choose to wander the bustling tourist district of Thamel to finish up your souvenir shopping, or rest up in your hotel. Join us for a final meal together, as we enjoy a Nepalese farewell dinner with traditional live music and dance.

Drop off at the airport

As today is your last day in the country we appreciate your decision to choose us as your travel companion. We are honored to be a part of your beautiful memories and hope that we met your expectations. We will accompany you to the airport for a traditional Nepal farewell, and we wish you a safe flight back home.